Prayer
O God,
as we assemble ourselves for prayer,
we remember before you today our brothers and sisters in Djibouti and Somalia.
Give to them and to us your peace. Give to them and us tranquillity.
As we together experience your divine blessings,
may our lives be a constant witness of your amazing grace.
We pray this prayer in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
(Pilgrim Prayer, adapted, 133)
I AM HOPE
Poems by refugees from Djibouti and Somalia
(© LWF Kenya Djibouti Somalia, June 2020)
I am the morning sun
I am the morning sun.
I wonder:
What are my abilities?
Who am I?
What is society expecting of me?
I am an advocate,
My role is to enlighten part of the world
each morning for a period of 12 hours.
To avoid being unfair, I illuminate
another part of the world that was once in the dark.
I can change my environment,
I have the ability to turn black into light.
What the world expects from me is light.
I am the morning sun.
I wonder.
What are my abilities?
Who am I?
What is society expecting of me?
I enlighten all those who have just crossed the night.
Without injustice, I enlighten everyone.
Julien Tundwa
Responsive Psalm 61
Hear my cry, O God; listen to my prayer.
From the end of the earth I call to you, when my heart is faint.
Lead me to the rock that is higher than I;
for you are my refuge, a strong tower against the enemy.
Let me abide in your tent forever, find refuge under the shelter of your wings.
For you, O God, have heard my vows; you have given me the heritage of those who fear your name.
Prolong the life of the king; may his years endure to all generations!
May he be enthroned forever before God; appoint steadfast love and faithfulness to watch over him!
So I will always sing praises to your name, as I pay my vows day after day.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit,
As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be world without end, Amen.
Scripture Reading
17 Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls and will give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with sighing—for that would be harmful to you.
18 Pray for us; we are sure that we have a clear conscience, desiring to act honourably in all things. 19 I urge you all the more to do this, so that I may be restored to you very soon.
20 Now may the God of peace, who brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, 21 make you complete in everything good so that you may do his will, working among us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen.
22 I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, bear with my word of exhortation, for I have written to you briefly. 23 I want you to know that our brother Timothy has been set free; and if he comes in time, he will be with me when I see you. 24 Greet all your leaders and all the saints. Those from Italy send you greetings. 25 Grace be with all of you.
The Word of the Lord,
Thanks be to God.
Time for Silent Reflection
Affirmation of Faith and Prayer of Intercession
Je crois à la miséricorde de Dieu : Il est venu partager la condition des plus pauvres, qui sont victimes de l’oppression politique, des accidents économiques ou de toute domination idéologique. Par la naissance du Christ, je découvre que tous les réfugiés sont mes frères et sœurs, et que le Seigneur les aime, eux en priorité.
Ô Dieu, accorde-nous un esprit de grâce, compassion et paix. (2 Timothée, 1:2)
I believe in the mercy of God: He came to share the condition of the poorest, who are victims of political oppression, economic accidents or any ideological domination. By the birth of Christ, I discover that all the refugees are my brothers and sisters, and that the Lord loves them, them in priority.
O God, grant us a spirit of grace, compassion and peace.
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Je crois aussi à la miséricorde de Dieu pour les responsables de toutes ces souffrances : C’est par révolte contre le Seigneur de toute vie, ou par idolâtrie d’une idéologie, qu’ils méprisent ou écrasent leurs semblables. Mais ils s›enferment dans la solitude et la peur. Sur la croix, Christ leur offre le pardon. Il les appelle à changer de vie et à reconnaître leurs frères et sœurs.
Ô Dieu, accorde-nous un esprit de grâce, compassion et paix.
I also believe in the mercy of God for those responsible for all these sufferings: It is by revolt against the Lord of all life, or by idolatry of an ideology, that they despise or crush their fellow men. But they lock themselves in loneliness and fear. On the cross, Christ offers them forgiveness. He calls them to change their lives and to recognize their brothers and sisters.
O God, grant us a spirit of grace, compassion and peace.
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Je crois à la miséricorde de Dieu pour moi aussi : ‘ Bien souvent j’ai renié mes frères, sourd et aveugle à leurs souffrances, peut-être même ai-je participé à leur oppression. Bien souvent j’ai perdu courage, j’ai fui, j’ai abandonné ma vocation. Mais sur la croix, le Christ m’a pardonné, à moi aussi, et, ressuscité, il vient à moi, et m›appelle de nouveau à sa suite.
Ô Dieu, accorde-nous un esprit de grâce, compassion et paix. (2 Timothée, 1:2)
I believe in the mercy of God for me too: ‘Very often I have denied my brothers, deaf and blind to their sufferings, perhaps I have even participated in their oppression. Very often I have lost heart, I have fled, I have abandoned my vocation. But on the cross, Christ forgave me, too, and, risen, he comes to me, and calls me again to follow him.
O God, grant us a spirit of grace, compassion and peace.
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Par son Esprit, il me redonne l’espérance à partager, et le courage de le servir.
Donne-nous, ô Dieu, un esprit de force, d’amour et de sagesse. (2 Timothée 1: 6, 7)
By his Spirit, he gives me hope to share, and the courage to serve him.
Give us, O God, a spirit of strength, love and wisdom.
(Pilgrim Prayer, 133 - 134)
The Lord’s Prayer
(in the language of our heart)
Benediction
The Lord bless us and keep us; the Lord make his face shine on us and be gracious to us; the Lord turn his face toward us and give us peace.